After four years of kicker woes, the Chicago Bears locked up Cairo Santos on a multi-year contract extension that will keep him in Chicago until 2023.
The Bears agreed with Santos to make a five-year deal worth $ 16 million with a mx value of $ 17.5 million, but the last two years of Santos’ deal are voidable, so it’s basically a deal three years worth $ 9 million with a maximum value of $ 11 million.
But how will Santos’ contract extension affect Chicago’s salary cap towards 2021?
Before Santos renewal, the Bears were about $ 17 million, according to Over the Cap. That after Chicago placed the franchise tag on receiver Allen Robinson, earning him a $ 17.9 million cap hit. Santos ‘cap hit in 2021 will be $ 1.575 million, meaning that Santos’ extension will bring the Bears $ 19.2 million above the limit ahead of the new competition year.
The NFL agreed a salary cap of $ 182.5 million for 2021, leaving the Bears with a cap of $ 190 million after the previous year’s transfer. That will still make it difficult for general manager Ryan Pace with Chicago nearly $ 20 million over the limit.
Other things we can expect to help with the cap situation in the coming days are contract restructuring, with players like security Eddie Jackson and left-wing guard Cody Whitehair making the most sense. With cornerback Buster Skrine and right tackle Bobby Massie all of the cap casualties, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Chicago split up with more players before March 17th, including potentially tight Jimmy Graham, left tackle Charles Leno Jr. and recipient Anthony Miller.